Sakura's POV (Medical Ward of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Sakura's failure in the previous exam had burned in her mind intensely. She knew she could have been a better kunoichi. She was nothing in combat compared to Lee. But she had figured she could struggle and overcome things as they went, especially with the support of her teammates. Yet she had been outclassed by nearly every participant. In combat, she had been helpful to some degree but it wasn't enough. Was that all she was? A supportive member of the team unable to stand on her own merit? It had been easy to decide to play a supporting role on the team. Kiba and Lee were both quick and punishing close-range specialists. How else could she contribute with her meager chakra reserves? Gai had suggested it to her heavily using it to slowly grow them, with the plan in mind to slowly grow her combat skills. Sakura had thought differently than him. Probably would be best to stick to the skills that had gotten her this far.
It was only now she recognized how stupid she had been. While her time to be promoted had gone, Sakura had been determined to grow anyways. Sakura had taken to training with Lee on Taijutsu. It would be a waste of time and effort for her bombastic teammate, but it had already made her feel more substantial. Less fragile and helpless, now if someone attacked her, she need not worry about her only defense being meager genjutsu and intelligence. Well, somewhat, anyway.
Sakura shook her head as if to shake off such thoughts. She continued on towards the Medical Ward. The hallways between separate sections were sparse, scrubbed meticulously, and lightly colored gray. There were the occasional paintings of various famed Samurai and Land of Iron politicians. But they did little to give energy to the otherwise spartan hallways. Once Lee had been heartbrokenly defeated, Sakura decided to visit both of her teammates. Perhaps her grappling with her own defeat could offer her the wisdom to ease the pain for Lee and Kiba.
Sakura saw the entrance of the Medical Ward, a locked set of white double doors guarded by two armored Samurai. Seated to the right of the door was an old, bald, petite man in a simple yellow robe who sat at a simple table. On the said table were a clipboard and two weapon racks next to it.
"Hello, young maiden." The man said with a polite smile. "Are you here to visit or be admitted to the Medical Ward?"
"Visit, Sir," Sakura said with a small but not submissive bow. She had heard people of the land of iron respected manners and confidence. "I hope to see my teammates Rock Lee and Kiba Inuzuka."
"Very well, some minor things we need to discuss and do, of course." The old informed. "Firstly, it seems clear to me you are a shinobi. That is fine, of course, but some complications must be addressed. Firstly, we need access to your Shinobi ID number to verify your identity and have it on record of your visit. Secondly, we'll need you to vacate any weapons on your person onto the racks before you and consent to a search. No need to worry; we have a proud female Samurai who can do such." Said female Samurai guardian at the door bowed at this. Finally, we will take down your name and the time of the visit. Is that all ok with you?"
Sakura affirmed such, offered her a Shinobi License, and removed the couple of kunai she always kept on her person. The search was done, and nothing was found. As that concluded, the man finished noting her details and nodded her on.
The halls of the Medical Ward were nearly identical to the previous hall, except for the top and the bottom of the walls were striped red to indicate where she was. And if possible, it seemed only more spartan. Only nurses and doctors walked around on their way to task or paperwork. Doubtless, some of them had helped her teammates, so Sakura ensured to bow to each of them as a show of thanks before she arrived at Lee's room.
When she entered, she had expected to see Lee doing some absurd training. The young man had always seemed tireless and ever diligent. Something Sakura had grown to appreciate over time. One could hardly find a more reliable teammate than the faithful Nice Guy Rock Lee. Yet she was puzzled upon walking into the room and seeing Lee sitting calmly on his bed, facing the window. It was a grim sight, further enhanced by the white and sterile room. Perhaps he was still in pain?
"Lee? Are you ok?" Sakura asked gently. Being a teammate of Kiba had schooled Sakura in the school of male pride. Few could claim to be as proud as either of her teammates. As such, she knew to approach the topic of failure cautiously. Lee doubtless wouldn't snap at her; he seemed to lack such cruelty. But she would prefer not to offend the kind man if possible.
Lee didn't respond so deep in thought he was. Sakura saw this and resisted the urge to sigh. Lee had overcome much in his life. Often due to factors outside of his own control. His new defeat, likely defeated before he could do whatever he had in mind, had only shamed and disappointed him more.
"Lee… you know you did well, right? I doubt too many could've done much to her." Sakura reasoned as she sat next to her teammate. Lee continued to stare out the window silently. Sakura could see Lee's eyes becoming watery, yet the proud man would likely not let a teardrop. Ironic since he cried openly nearly every day. "I mean," Sakura continued recognizing Lee would not respond. "Fuu was absurdly powerful; she could fly and apparently is as tough as a mountain-"
"I appreciate you, Sakura; your wisdom is only matched by your beauty." Lee said simply. "But the others… Gaara… Naruto… Sasuke. They surely wouldn't have been defeated with such ease as I… I let down you, Kiba, myself; I even let down Gai sensei." Lee replied sullenly. "If only I could've used my technique…"
"The gates tear your body apart. If you had accessed Gate Four or Five, maybe, but the cost…" Sakura replied sullenly.
"I had a different technique in mind… something Gai Sensei didn't teach me." Lee countered. "But it didn't work." Lee frowned, something Sakura couldn't claim to have seen often. He said no more, too down to force conversation. Sakura racked her brain before she decided on a method of cheering him up.
"Do you remember our first week as a team?" Sakura said, breaking the silence that had filled the room. "Gai Sensei had us running drills endlessly. Apparently, we needed bodies worthy of the shinobi we would become."
"Of course, I always listen to the wise words of Gai Sensei." Lee replied, seemingly confused.
"Well, only you could keep up with it when we started. Kiba did marginally worse, but I couldn't do it at all. Everyday, twice a day, for two weeks, I would collapse well before the exercise was over. I almost quit being a kunoichi." Sakura explained with a small smile. "It seemed impossible; how could I ever keep up? The question seemed so obvious to me that I couldn't, but each and every time I nearly gave up you and Kiba would help. Cheer me on, help me finish, support me the whole way."
Lee blinked, confused. "Of course we did, you are our precious teammate." He confirmed.
"I remember at first I resented you two. Why did you both try so hard? Why were you both so much better than me? Yet as I struggled, and you two helped, and I overcame my previous limits, I realized something. Something I think Gai has been trying to teach us from the start." Sakura explained as she leaned her head against Lee's shoulder. She usually wouldn't do such, especially with Lee, who held his torch for her plain as day. But she trusted he would know she meant it as supportive instead of affectionate.
Lee was now not so down, distracted by the idea that there was a teaching he had yet to grasp. Was he truly such a bad student?
"It's something you know, just have forgotten in the moment. Failure is merely a part of growth. It only is a true failure if we fail to learn a lesson." Sakura finished with a smile.
"Gai Sensei said that at our first meeting… he always says it. I see you are most youthful, Sakura." Lee said as he stood, his eyes containing some of the fire they had lost. Clearly, he was still down, but at least he seemed determined again.
"Thank you, Lee," Sakura said as she got up and walked to the door. "Let's go visit Kiba now, alright?"
"YOSH!" Lee yelled as the two marched on. They briefly discussed various topics, but they soon arrived at the door. Lee, ever the gentleman, knocked on the door and waited for Kiba's answer. Sakura frowned as a minute stretched over with no answer. She walked past Lee and opened the door herself. Unlike Lee's room, Kiba's room was somewhat destroyed. The bed was untouched; the walls and ceilings were torn as if a giant beast had been in the room. On the bed lay an emotionally miserable-looking Akamaru. Kiba was nowhere to be seen.
"Kiba? Did his Youth overcome him? Perhaps he went to train." Lee reasoned.
"That's something only you do, Lee," Sakura said. "Why isn't he here? What happened here?"
"My dear students! I understand you may be down, but fret not! Gai Sensei will ensure such misfortune will never befall you again!" Gai roared as he posed at the door. The alarmed Sakura and confused Lee met his gaze. Gai, perhaps by instinct, knew something was wrong. His gaze slid around the room, taking in the state. "Where is the youthful Kiba?"
"We… don't know." Sakura answered honestly.
Gai grimaced before his face became stony. "Sakura and Lee, both of you spread out and look for Kiba. We're not on home turf; he must be found. Otherwise, he may be in danger. Go forth with Youth." Sakura and Lee, rarely hearing such a severe tone from their sensei, raced off to do as he ordered.
Gai Sensei waited a moment before he, too, raced off. He couldn't help but worry Kiba may need help.
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Neji's POV (Medical Ward of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Neji groaned as he awoke. While he had been conscious after his bout with Sasuke, the pain had exhausted him, and at some point, he must've slipped into sleep.
"Ah, good you are awake. Felt like a creep waiting for you to wake up." A female voice called out, alerting Neji of her presence. Instinct flared in the Hyuga as reflexively he tried to activate the Byakugan. A dull pain distracted him; he was out of chakra…
Neji sat up on his bed as he eyed the voice. He was surprised to see a bandaged and bruised Tenten sitting in a chair in his room.
"Excuse me, where am I?" Neji politely asked, glad to see it was what should be a friendly face.
"The medical ward, of course." Tenten replied with a smile. "And no need to worry, not here for vengeance on Team Seven."
Neji nodded before eying Tenten again suspiciously. "So why then are you here?"
"Well, for one…" Tenten said as a tanto suddenly appeared in her hands. Neji refused to flinch or show fear but knew he would be primarily helpless should she decide to attack. "We're neighbors!" Neji deflated at that. It seemed she was some sort of joker. "But more honestly, I had a few questions I hoped you could answer."
"Question about what," Neji said with a frown. He had been defeated by Sasuke. It felt like these days, for a "genius," he seemed to be constantly being defeated. It annoyed him; he had aches and was very much not in the mood for a conversation. Especially ones that appeared to be a hidden interrogation.
"About your lovely teammate, everyone's favorite, blonde, knucklehead, one Naruto Uzumaki." Tenten replied bluntly. "Before you tell me no, and to leave." Tenten stopped him from doing just such. "I just need to know him better. It's important… I heard early on that you and Naruto did not get along. Up until you both beat the hell out of each other. He defeated you, correct?"
Neji scowled as he was reminded of his defeat. He held no grief towards Naruto for such. Neji had been deserving of the defeat, and it was well fought. But the reminder after his recent failure stung all the same. "Correct." He snapped, his annoyance dripping from his voice.
"Very impressive considering your fight with the Uchiha." Tenten continued.
"Your point?" Neji asked, now done with her questions. Was she trying to infuriate him?
"My point is you are quite the shinobi; I consider myself one as well, and yet he defeated us both. I was just wondering if you could tell me a bit about it. How it felt, how he seemed." Tenten explained. Neji was silent as his Fury boiled beneath the surface. He had indeed come a long way since the start of his career. But he had never been a very sociable person.
"OK, I can see you dealing with your defeat poorly. You realize you only have yourself to blame?" Tenten countered, apparently realizing his inner turmoil. She recognized this may lower her chance at the information. But she couldn't help but be a bit snarky.
Neji wanted to stand and attack her but was much too tired and wouldn't shame the Hyuga by acting like a brute. "What. Do. You. Mean."
"You are undeniably strong, smart, and fast, yet you limit yourself," Tenten replied. "If you had simply fought to win instead of fighting like a Hyuga, you may have won."
Neji wanted to reply angrily, but her words reminded him of Eagle's.
"You are doubtless an extremely talented shinobi, but as long as you are only a Hyuga, you will be limited. Instead of fighting like a Hyuga, you should fight like Neji."
He had brushed off the words then. How much more could he adapt? He was the only Hyuga he knew who bothered to use element jutsu! He had taught himself the techniques of the clan. But he tempered his anger; perhaps he needed to think more. He decided to answer her question for now. He would need time alone to think. He could sense she wouldn't be leaving until satisfied.
"The battle was one of anger and pride. Naruto was a placeholder for my frustrations. I had no true reason to resent him, and yet I did. He, to my shock, was bold in standing before me. Although I was held a genius of our year, he was confident he could stand as my equal. In the fight, I had been assured of my victory and fought as such. Naruto never backed down, never gave up, and never stopped. He matched me blow for blow, took my worst, and gave better. He never seemed to be aiming to hurt me, yet I cannot say the same for him. It was odd how determined he was to defeat me, yet I never sensed him enjoying the pain he caused me. Soon, he met my strongest defense with an attack I could not defend against. It was shocking, yet it felt as if we somehow had gained a level of understanding. It made me respect him…"
"Similar to my own experience then…" Tenten said, trailing off as she seemed to focus on something else. Neji raised a brow. She thought she would grill him and then offer nothing in return?
"I answered your question now answer mine. This isn't everything. Why are you so interested in Naruto Uzumaki." Neji replied stiffly.
Tenten chuckled but decided to answer. "I have hated combat for years. Unlike some, I've seen the real thing: men and women mercilessly killing each other. Oftentimes for reasons that seem awfully unjustified. I've been trained to do the same. Combat to me for the longest time was merely a prelude to death."
"You were one of the Genin in the Root, weren't you." Neji replied casually.
"Rumors were spread of Genin being in it. Though they never quite mentioned names."
"Of course, they didn't. It's a law to leave it unknown. I was in Root along with my teammate Sai. Our original goal had been to investigate various other Genin. But we had been active and in use since a very young age. It is why I grew to hate combat. Yet when fighting Naruto, I felt at ease… as if we weren't dancing with death but with each other. It was… well… I wish all combat could be like that." Tenten explained. "I just want to learn about Naruto Uzumaki because I'm certain he will be a big name soon enough."
"He intends to become Hokage one day." Neji added. "I often find myself believing in such."
"Well, then, I intend to stick around him. I could use someone like that in my corner." Tenten said with a smile. "Want some company until the healing kicks in?"
Neji went to tell her no but hesitated. It had distracted him from his anger…
"Sure."
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Sai / Temari's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Sai often felt out of depth. The world had always been strange for him. He could scarcely remember his parents; from his small amount of memories of them, they seemed ordinary enough. Loving, kind, and nurturing, they had all the traits parents needed. Sai could not remember specifics, but he remembered being somewhat happy. He had loved his family and enjoyed experiencing life as it went. He couldn't remember it, but he had been informed that his parents and his home village had been razed by a missing shinobi. There had been few survivors, primarily children. Sai had been one of them; he was saved by a patrol of Anbu. Unknowingly, they had not been normal Anbu but Root Leaf Anbu. His recruitment had been a significant adjustment. His training had been both physically and mentally shattering. Sai knew he had been different before, though he could not tell how.
"Great Sickle Weasel Jutsu!" Temari roared angrily as she whipped her fan forward. A gust of wind flew through the forest. The force of which whipped rock with force and uprooted trees. Not to mention how much of the forest caught in her blast was sliced into pieces. Sai was glad his desperate leap had allowed him to dodge such. He drew another scroll and hurriedly scribbled a series of bunnies, squirrels, and coyotes onto it.
"Super Beast Scroll." Sai whispered as he ran through the forest; as he passed a thick tree, Sai allowed his creations to run into the forest, lying in wait with the others he had summoned thus far. He leaped backward, a series of backflips allowing him to narrowly avoid another gust of destructive wind. He quickly backtracked to keep up cover. His opponent was Temari of the Sand. She was the eldest child of the Kazekage Rasa of the Sand. She was a notable mention due to her team's track record. Flawlessly completing at least ten A-rank missions. While primarily due to her sibling Gaara, it would be foolish to assume she had just stood there.
Sai had changed; such had been necessary in his new world. His previous one had been filled with care, nurture, and enjoyment. His new one seemed full of pain and violence. While he remembered some discomfort in the beginning, Sai, as most children were, was ever adaptive. He had learned to become emotionless. To value the mission more than himself or his happiness, Sai could not hate it, for he knew he needed to do so. Necessity had a way of simplifying matters. Sai could not say he had been happy. Others informed him all the time of the damage it must've cost. Tenten did so often, lamenting the treatment they had suffered. Truthfully, Sai did not feel as strongly. He had learned to accept the cruel world as simple and thorough; he had lost much, but he still had his art.
"Super Beast Scroll." Sai whispered as he ran through the forest; as he passed a thick tree, he allowed his creations to run into the forest, lying in wait with the others he had summoned thus far. He leaped backward, and a series of backflips allowed him to narrowly avoid another gust of destructive wind. He quickly backtracked to keep up cover.
Sai had quickly discovered his intuition was well thought out. Temari was a formidable opponent, an incredibly skilled wind nature user; she used such a battle fan to unleash potent and vast techniques. She would be an interesting opponent to defeat. It would be much simpler if he could kill her. But Tenten forbade such actions if they were unnecessary. His new world was more complex than his old one.
Sai was further confused when Danzo and the root were destroyed by proxy. Not entirely, of course; organizations could be difficult to fully destroy. But enough for Sai to have been "freed." Tenten had been ecstatic; Sai was sure Shin would've also been. But Sai had felt little for it; he had come to enjoy the world as it was now. Tenten and Shikamaru seemed to make Sai comfortable merely by being around. But his world now was endlessly complex. Social behavior, morality, and freedom are all things most never truly pondered. They were considered something everyone deserved. But at times, Sai wished he was merely a tool for Danzo again. At least he had understood that world.
Sai released another volley of his creations as he narrowly dodged a more focused wind blade. 'She can do focused attacks as well. How is she tracking me?' His thoughts were interrupted as Temari shouted out another technique.
"Wind Style: Cast Net!" This time, a large net-shaped gust of wind flew forward, slicing through everything in its path. Sai frowned as he ran toward the attack, drawing his tanto as he did so. He allowed his chakra to flow through the small blade, glowing as it did, and he sliced toward the net. There was a boom as the techniques canceled each other out, sending Sai flying back. Temari smirked as dust filled the air. She sheathed her fan and started weaving hand signs. "Wind Style: Air Current-Wild Dance!" Temari said with a smirk as two gusts of wind shot from her palms. They quickly surged through the air, collecting dust and speed as they did so. Sai raised his eyes as he saw the twister suddenly surge toward him. 'My plan won't work if she can track me. A wind user somehow keeping track of me… air currents? Likely but impossible to know for sure. Enough to act on.' Sai decided as his body flickered close to Temari; he ducked, barely escaping being clubbed by Temari's fan and pretending to be caught off guard. "I'm no slouch at close-range combat! Loser!" Temari said with a shit-eating grin as she swung her fan and sent Sai careening toward the forest. Temari chased after him to pursue her victory.
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Temari's POV
Temari's life was nothing less than complex. She was the eldest child of the Kazekage himself, a prodigy in wind nature, yet she was not the favored child. Nor was their Father anything close to someone who resembled a loving parent. Temari could remember little before except for her siblings, but she remembered it being often tense and cold. Their mother had been a loving and caring woman, but even back then, Rasa had been cold. He had children to secure his legacy, not out of love. His love for his wife had been confirmed but limited to her only. Rasa was a man who loved out of convenience, it seemed. Nothing had changed much with the birth of Kankuro. Rasa had been somewhat happy to have a son yet seemed doubtful of him from the start. No things had only truly changed when Gaara was born.
Temari knew she could not afford to show mercy here. Becoming Chunin would offer her many opportunities. It would be necessary to keep an eye on Gaara as well. So she pursued the strange man she had been battling as he crashed into a tree painfully. She nearly flinched as the bark shattered from the impact, and his black blood splattered around the area… wait for black blood? She looked at what she expected to be a broken man only to see ink stains.
Gaara had been chosen to be a jinchuriki, so desperate had their Father been to consolidate power he had insisted they not wait but seal the beast within Gaara even as he was within his own mother. It had worked; their mother even managed to give birth. The cost had been significant, though. Their mother, the only light they could see in their dark life, died that day. With it, the only compassion Rasa had seemed to have died as well. He had become somehow colder and focused solely on his job as a Kage. As if that wasn't enough, Gaara slowly became the monster he was today…
"An Ink Clone." Sai's voice echoed throughout the forest. Temari flinched. 'He led me into the forest and is somehow hiding from my air currents. Can't even use his voice to lead me to him. He's good.'
"Next up, Super Beast Scroll: Critter Ambush." Temari tensed and felt a minor disturbance in the air. She leaned out of the way and dodged a blur of darkness. A bird. Before she could ponder further, she dodged a speeding rabbit, a lunging coyote, and several rapid squirrels. 'He's summoned a whole damn forest of murderous art! I'd already be tagged if it wasn't for my Current Sense.'
"Enough!" Temari yelled as she raised her palms. "Wind Style Air Current Repulsing Dome!" A large dome of swirling aim seemed to emerge from Temari's very being, destroying all the ink creations that attempted to attack Temari. She felt a twinge in the currents around her as she did so. 'He had been sitting completely still!' She smiled as she drew her fan and shot off another unfocused blast. It tore through trees and stones as it smashed toward her target. She felt grim satisfaction as she saw Sai fly with the debris before he suddenly burst into ink. 'Another Ink Clone?' She flinched as she heard a crumble of earth behind her. She raised a palm and fired off a desperate blast of wind, which managed to smack Sai out of the air and skidded away from her.
Sai's POV
Sai rolled against the ground to slow his roll and avoid breaking anything. 'She's capable of one-handed jutsu and has great instincts. Danzo would've ordered her death or somehow integrated her into us. I suppose I should try to end things before they get ugly.' Sai decided as Temari swung her fan to send him flying again. Wisely forgoing a more robust technique to ensure he would be hit again. But Sai jumped into the air and summoned a more enormous creation than his previous ones. "Super Beast Scroll: Robin Steed." Sai signed as the air sent him flying. Luckily, his art came to life, turning his flight into a controlled flight path. He saw Temari seething before she joined him in the air, riding her fan.
'Limits her options.' Sai thought as he began to throw a litany of kunai and shuriken at Temari. He smiled as they were casually deflected. 'Needs to be a more powerful attack. Likely one she does not see coming.' Sai willed his creation to turn back and readied a lunging stance. He saw Temari scowl at this as she started to weave hand signs. Sai did the same as a random thought occurred to him. 'She's amusing.' Temari finished her technique first.
"Wind Style: Pressurized Air Beam," Temari said as she closed her hands, and a beam of air raced forward. Sai could only gasp in pain as it pierced him just above his left shoulder. "Sorry, art boy, but I don't play nice! Wind Style: Wind Cutter!" A blast of wind blades raced forward as Sai finished his own technique.
"Super Beast Scroll: Armored Steer!" Sai yelled as ink surged through the robin and formed into Samurai-like armor. The blast of wind sliced through this with ease, as well as his armored bird. Temari smirked as the creation burst into ink, and Sai flew off of it cut and falling to the earth below. Temari flinched as she realized it had been too easy she whipped her palm behind her surprising a closely approaching Sai. Without a word or seals she blasted him with wind. But the Sai burst into ink as well. 'He wasn't on the bird or flanking me? Then where?'
Sai smirked as the real him flew free from the cloud of ink tanto drawn. Temari could only widen her eyes as Sai sliced through her fan and cut a line through her front. She screamed out in pain before falling, losing control of her wind jutsu. Sai blinked at this. Briefly debating whether to save her. 'An incident for the Leaf perhaps, but not one that couldn't be dealt with. Besides, she might become a threat in the future…
"Sai, sometimes we gotta act in ways that may betray logic." Shikamaru had told him. "Remember, sometimes you just gotta act impulsively, though it is a real drag."
'Well, she is interesting…' Sai decided as he formed another bird and caught Temari. She frowned at him before nodding once, apparently too proud to thank him. 'Things were much simpler before.'
As they landed and Sai allowed Temari to walk away, Kakashi poofed back in. "I assume?" Kakashi asked.
Temari growled. "He almost cut me open. Then saved my life; I'm beyond done here!"
Kakashi nodded coyly. "Sai?"
"All done here," Sai replied with a smile.
"You're rematching me one day, art boy!"
Kakashi shook his head, amused as he raised his voice. "Sai of the Leaf Village wins! Next match will be Shikamaru Nara VS Suigetsu Hozuki!"
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Kabuto's POV (Hidden Prison in the Leaf Village - Land of Fire)
Kabuto cracked his neck as he inwardly processed his damage and spent chakra as the right-hand man of Orochimaru, a former Root operative and even a mole for Sasori. He had become quite the threat, dangerous even. His loyalties were to Orochimaru due to his genius and only that. It had been painful and annoying to become a Genin to keep an eye on Sasuke. He had been thankful for the emergency; it gave him a reason to break his cover. His butchering of the Genin Team in the exam had been for his amusement. Orochimaru had correctly assumed that the Sound Four may fail. Though he doubted, he had expected what had happened. Tayuya Uzumaki apparently had turned herself in and aimed to give them information. Annoyingly, she had quite a bit of dangerous info to offer. Somehow, it had resisted the installed kill switch in the curse mark. An Uzumaki countering Fuinjutsu, go figure.
His freedom of movement gave him time to find her. It had been demanding; he had jumped a Chunin to get the info. Oh, he had tried to hold out but had given up once Kabuto had severed both Achilles Tendons. Luckily, Kabuto offered him the mercy of slicing his heart in two. It had led him to the home of an Anbu; a bit more creative torture had led him here. Of course, there were guards, even with a significant amount of shinobi present at the exams. Chunin, Jounin, and even a few Anbu had met him at the entrance. Oh, they were spirited; they had shattered his ribs, severed an arm, even slit his throat.
But in the end, they all lay dead on his feet. As they often were, they were bloodless. Looking as if their souls had simply been plucked from their bodies. His Chakra Scalpel was quite the technique indeed. He marched forward, looking into cells and ignoring the inhabitants. He saw a locked unit and smiled. As he opened the door, he did so to meet an inferno. The flames raged through the door, melting his skin and even causing his bones to pop due to heat. But Kabuto marched through the pain and flames. Trusting his chakra to heal and keep him alive. He saw two Genin and a Chunin look at him fearfully. Kabuto offered them a smile before dashing forward and killing the Chunin with a mere tap to his chest. The Genin, losing their nerve, turned in an attempt to run. Kabuto allowed it as he reached into the kunai case of the downed man before him. He drew two and calmly aimed and threw both. Watching with mild amusement as the adult Genin was struck and killed instantly from kunai piercing the back of their skulls.
Kabuto laughed as he entered the unit, seeing a large furnished cell holding Tayuya and two more Chunin, who glared at him grimly.
"There you are, Tayuya. We were hoping to find you. Orochimaru sends his regards, of course." Kabuto chirped as one of the Chunin stabbed a spear into his midsection with a roar. He froze when Kabuto barely reacted, not even when blood squirted through the wound. "For a second, I thought a bee stung me." Kabuto joked as he tapped the throat of the Chunin in front of him. The man gasped and stumbled back breathlessly. The second attempted hand signs, but Kabuto brutally ripped the spear from himself and shot it into the second Chunin. He watched as both slowly died, Tayuya doing so with a scowl. "Finally, all alone!" Kabuto yelled theatrically.
"Great, they assigned a bunch of pussy shit guards. And now I have the pleasure of being killed by your creepy ass. At least you creeps can't kill me remotely." Tayuya snarked from within her cell.
"Indeed, such is the price of betraying Orochimaru. Now, please be patient; I cannot make this quick or painless." Kabuto said as he unlocked the cell and arrogantly allowed Tayuya out of it. "No need to worry. We both know you're no match for me, even with that mark."
Tayuya merely laughed, a heavy belly laugh that made Kabuto frown.
"What pray to tell is such a funny dead woman?" Kabuto was annoyed; she seemed to be attempting to take control.
"How much chakra are you wasting going all psycho killer on the guard's dumbass." Tayuya said in between laughter.
"Hmm, I'll admit a fair bit of it; I won't need much at all to kill you, though." Kabuto countered.
"How about me, then, old friend?" A female voice called out as Kabuto heard a familiar set of heels draw closer…
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Shikamaru's POV (Courtyard Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Shikamaru rolled under a speeding ball of water, dived above another, and deflected kunai as he rose. It was a wonder he could even do such; the match had been predictably one-sided thus far. Shikamaru had time before this tournament to look into and prepare for his opponents, and a thinker like him knew to use the time well. Yet if Shikamaru was fully honest… his expectations and predictions had been well and far off.
Sasuke he had known little about, but the tidbit of him having something akin to teleportation was sure to leave Shikamaru helpless. He had assumed Gaara would be quite the threat, yet he hadn't considered the idea he could casually send building-sized waves of sand. Naruto could fly and had mastered the nature of wind at some point. Even Suigetsu, it seemed, was prepped to shatter his predictions.
He had figured the Hozuki clan used their bloodline defensively, turning targeted parts of themselves into water to avoid damage and further augment their water techniques. They could freely do it to each part of their body reflexively; they were similar but critically different. It meant their defense was much more consistent than he had hoped. It had been made clear from the previous bouts that "they were weak to lightning." Unhelpful, considering his nature was fire, and it was easier to harness the power of electricity with jutsu. Luckily, Shikamaru had developed a plan that did not require such. All he needed to do was force Suigetsu to fully become water. Easier said than done.
For the past five minutes, Shikamaru had done something he had always hated. Fought head-on, he hated close-range combat and trading blows with a specialist of such. It took each trick and technique Asuma had taught him to survive this long. Suigetsu wielded his sword well, using timed strikes paired with self-powered water jutsu to completely overwhelm the Nara. Shikamaru had been OK with this; he knew he could only force Suigetsu to fully liquify by offense. Unfortunately, even with his increased training as of late, Shikamaru seemed utterly outclassed physically speaking. After several cuts and painful blows, it became clear that a change of plans was necessary.
Suigetsu had shown himself to be rather prideful, showing his abilities and techniques gleefully. That was annoying but undeniably useful; he should be able to bait him… Shikamaru ducked another spurt of water and backtracked into the forest.
"Can't hide from me, slacker! Water Style: Crescent Wave Blade!" Suigetsu taunted as he spun and swung his blade. An arc of water fired off the sword and raced toward the forest, cutting down several trees as it did so. Shikamaru barely managed to outpace it, pumping his arms and legs as he sprinted towards his destination. If he could get him there and bait him into doing his will. "Stop fucking running, you damn coward!" Suigetsu yelled.
"Strategic withdrawal is the proper term here!" Shikamaru replied, the irritation dripping from his voice as he slid into a bush. Suigetsu, mere instants behind, slashed wildly, destroying the plant life as Shikamaru scurried forward, finally rolling down into the ditch to his goal. 'The river! Perfect! Let's hope this is less of a drag than I think it may be.'
"You're a dead slacker!" Suigetsu roared as he leaped towards Shikamaru. But Shikamaru merely smirked as he made a hand sign.
"Let's test that. Shadowy Grasp Jutsu." Shikamaru countered. The first part of his little ploy would be costly but would surely work. From holes in the ground, the shadows of trees and shadows from beneath the leaves condensed and formed a grouping of long shadowy hands that seemingly mindlessly writhed around the genius. Suigetsu smirked cockily.
"Have you learned not-" Shikamaru didn't allow the mist shinobi to finish the hands stilled for a moment before racing forward. Some slammed straight through the liquid body of Suigetsu, others attempted to beat him into submission, and some even attempted to tear him apart. Suigetsu burst into the water, flying around and past Shikamaru into the river of the courtyard.
"You little shit!" Suigetsu said with anger. "You tried to lead me to an ambush! You must've forgotten it wouldn't work. Now, let me show you my full power! Water Style: Water Golem!" Suddenly, the entire river surged, rising into the air into a large semi-humanoid; it became more defined as his face could be seen. "WHAT'S YOUR PLAN NOW?" He asked cockily. Shikamaru didn't bother to answer as he calmly drew a scroll and released its contents, showing what appeared to be quite a few pebbles. "GO AHEAD AND WASTE YOUR TIME IT'S OVER!" Suigetsu decided with a manic smile as he raised a giant watery fist to smash Shikamaru easily.
Shikamaru did not even flinch as he picked up and tossed the pebbles lazily at the giant. As Suigetsu reared back to finish the battle, the pebbles seemed to cause the water to bubble before significant bits of it began to solidify, seeming to become more gel-like than even Mangetsu had been. Suigetsu gasped as he watched both his shoulders solidify, part of his chest, and both his legs. Suigetsu growled as he raised a hand sign to turn back. But he could not move well…
"I can't control my body anymore; it's no longer even water!" Suigetsu said with shock. "What did you do to me…"
"Ever heard of instant snow?" Shikamaru replied easily. Suigetsu growled in angry confusion. "Slush powder? What a drag, slush powder, AKA sodium polyacrylate. It's a polymer that's considered a super absorbent. It can absorb as much as one hundred times his own weight in water." The genius explained casually as he watched Suigetsu struggle to escape his predicament.
"So what?!"
"So… when sodium polyacrylate is introduced to water, it becomes a semi-solid gel-like substance. I figured you would struggle to control your body in this state." Shikamaru continued. "Technically, I still can't hurt you yet."
"Ya! I'll enjoy tearing you apart once I find my way out of this!" Suigetsu chuckled.
Shikamaru shrugged as he drew another scroll and released three kunai covered in Fuinjutsu. "Well, the best part of it is slowly but surely, it will turn your entire body into a solid. I imagine that very well will kill you. Though if you surrender, I can free you."
"Your lying bastard!" Suigetsu roared now, unable to move his almost entire gel body anymore. He gasped as he realized how little of him was still water.
"If I am, it wouldn't really matter, would it? In that scenario, you die either way." Shikamaru replied as he lay down on the bank of the river and drew a cigarette. With a flick of his finger, he lit the flame using a minor fire technique he knew. "Your choice?"
Suigetsu frowned, seemingly prepared to deny the aid offered, before he flinched and nodded his head.
"Sorry, I know the proctor; we'll probably need verbal confirmation to end this." Shikamaru apologized as he drew a deep drag.
"I SURRENDER!" Suigetsu yelled desperately. Shikamaru nodded as he grabbed the kunai and lazily chucked him into the odd mass that had become Suigetsu. The kunai each stabbed in before they started to glow. Soon, the bizarre mass shrunk as the kunai glowed brilliantly blue. Suigetsu crawled out of the mass of gel coated in such but now entirely average.
"M-my chakra i-is…" Suigetsu started.
"Only way to force you to revert back." Shikamaru replied. "No chakra, no bloodline."
Suigetsu only groaned exhaustedly at that.
"Match over." Kakashi said as he appeared before he looked up and addressed the crowd. "Winner of the match Shikamaru Nara!" The crowd roared approval, enjoying the stylish win.
'Hopefully, that's enough to get promoted…' Shikamaru thought as he lazed. 'The other opponents wouldn't be so simple.'
"Alrighty, time to leave, Nara." Kakashi informed him. "One of my precious students is next."
"Too tired…" Shikamaru complained.
"Well, as your ally, it's only right I help you then." Kakashi said sweetly. "Earth Style: Emergent Pillar." He said as he stomped. Suddenly, a pillar of earth launched up from the ground. Sending the prone Nara flying upwards. He didn't bother screaming; surely Kakashi wouldn't kill him so casually.
'My life is such a drag.' He thought as he impacted into the competitor section. Naruto and the others narrowly avoided his impact, allowing him to slam painfully into the concrete. 'How did he even know the mathematics to send me flying perfectly into him in an instant.' "Your sensei sucks, Naruto."
"Not now, Shikamaru." Naruto replied seriously. Shikamaru glanced up, seeing the next match-up and realizing what had felt off all day. Ino had been missing all day, Naruto had seemed somewhat down, and looked conflicted now that it was her turn to fight. Couple problems as well? This day was really troublesome.
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Samui's POV (Contestant Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Samui scowled as she saw the screen as something occurred to her.
"Naruto, is your teammate not coming today?" Samui asked with a raised brow. It wouldn't be cool if she missed out on her match. "I promise not to be too rough with her." She teased.
"I haven't seen her." Naruto replied honestly. "We're kinda… in a fight. She hasn't enjoyed the rep that comes with being associated with me. She and I haven't talked since she told me that."
Samui felt a spark of emotion fire through her. But she tempered it for now; besides, losing her head over someone she had just met was uncool. Yet Samui felt earnest annoyance for Naruto. As a student of a jinchuriki, she knew the burden they carried as well as the burden their loved one ended up carrying as well. But Samui had never blamed Bee sensei for such; he needed support, not judgment. Perhaps that's why she felt so protective of Naruto. It was uncool to not back up your friends after all.
She shouldn't get involved…
"I hope your teammate shows up, Naruto. I look forward to our battle." Samui replied earnestly.
She then proceeded to the hall that would take her into the courtyard. As she marched, she thought it over more. Something about Naruto she had found engaging from the very start. It wasn't a physical attraction thing; the man looked fine enough. No, it was something about the way he acted. No airs were being put up, no hidden intentions or malice; hell, he had barely even stared at her… assets. That bar was a desperately high one…
He was just who he was. He was caring, silly, and brave. In many ways, he reminded Samui of a cooler Bee. Certainly not nearly as knowledgeable or powerful, but not nearly as strange. He was as fun as her own team but didn't grate on her nerves as they often did. She enjoyed his company…..
…..She was losing her cool. She needed to win this for her village. She was the last Cloud Genin in the exams. She needed to do well for her village. Not beat up some hussy for hurting her friends. Though she supposed being efficient and doing both would be alright…
Samui supposed it was her time…
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Ino's POV (Hall to Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Ino had not enjoyed hiding from her friends. It was lovely to reconnect with Sakura. She had grown to miss the days they had spent gossiping and hanging out in the past. But she felt bad for not showing herself to Naruto. She had wanted nothing more than to talk things through. But she had been worried about distracting Naruto. He was the type to drop everything to help a friend and certainly didn't need the distraction. But if she was sincere, she held back because talking things through would've been too easy. Naruto would forgive her instantly; he likely didn't even realize he should be angry with her.
But I didn't want things to work out smoothly; she felt she had to earn Naruto's forgiveness. Maybe, truthfully, it was for herself; perhaps she just wanted to prove to herself that the mistake didn't define her. Ino had gone through much during her difficult training with Anko. She had become confident in her abilities and knew she could be more than she had been before.
Kakashi had suggested she pick up a support role early on in forming Team Seven. He had explained that both Naruto and Neji were natural frontline combatants and that it would be helpful if she could further her support skills to ensure their team was adaptive. At first, Ino had been OK with this; she did not love training, and truthfully, before, she had never seen a reality where she could stand beside her powerful teammates. But over time, she had hated being behind them. Being helpless, if she hadn't gotten lucky, she wouldn't even be here…
No more. Ino had become a true kunoichi. Anko had told her a kunoichi was a merciless, intelligent woman willing to do whatever was necessary to fulfill her goals. Ino wasn't sure about that definition. But she was sure a kunoichi must be as equally graceful as she was powerful. She needed to stand firm to her ideals. She stands proud whenever it's needed. Ino would become a true kunoichi.
It was her time…
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Techniques / Tools Explanations
Chakra Enhancement - Supplemental - C Rank - Most Shinobi: (Canon leaves this concept unexplained, so explaining it in my own story may help.) This is a general B rank technique used in a variety of ways to bolster equipment via the use of chakra. It is usually used in weapons to enhance their power or use a specific technique. This can also be used to reinforce one's body.
Super Beast Scroll - Supplemental / Offensive - B Rank - Sai: (Similar to the previous one, this is a canon technique that most people understand, but it will function differently in my story. Only slightly for now but majorly later.) The user uses prepared chakra-laced ink and unique summoning scrolls to summon various creatures and/or equipment they draw. They may also form copies of themselves from such. The user is limited in the amount they can draw at once and must draw them fully. Making it only usable by an expert-level artist.
Super Beast Scroll: Critter Ambush - Offensive - B Rank - Sai: After Sai has summoned a litany of smaller creatures, he may call upon them to launch a coordinated assault on the opponent. The animals will seek to limit the target's movement, bring them to the ground, restrain them, and tear them apart if the user will.
Super Beast Scroll: Hidden Within - Supplemental - C Rank - Sai: Sai can hide within his more significant creations, protecting them from damage and shooting him from them upon their destruction. This is often used as either an escape technique or an ambush technique.
Wind Style: Current Sense - Sensory - B Rank - Temari: Temari floods the area around her with the wind chakra she controls. She can roughly feel disturbances in these currents, allowing her a rudimentary ability to sense those close to her.
Perpetual Self Healing Jutsu - Defensive - S Rank - Kabuto: Through a process of chakra recycling Kabuto invented, he can provide himself with incredible regeneration that seems to even work with lethal blows. This technique is tied with Kabuto's chakra and only fails once they run out.
Water Style: Water Golem - Supplemental - A Rank - Suigetsu and Mangetsu: Members of the Hozuki clan can use this technique with the aid of a significant source of water. The user surrounds them in water they control and form a giant humanoid. This dramatically increases the power of their blows and the power of the water technique.
Shadowy Grasp Jutsu - Offensive - B Rank - Shikamaru: The user uses shadows in the area to form unearthly hands of darkness. The user can control them for a short while by will. Once they hit the target, they will restrain or destroy it. If told to restrain, they will overwhelm and bind the target's limbs, paralyzing them as well. They will bludgeon, tear, or cut through the target when set to destroy.
Fuinjutsu Enhanced Weaponry - Various Ranks - Fuinjutsu Users: Using Fuinjutsu or premade seals, users enhance their tools with various aspects. (In this chapter, Shikamaru used them to seal off the chakra.)